Automobile inclosure



' mssmz v Feb. 26 1924.

I G. E. BISHOP AUTOMOBILE INCLOSURE Filed Jan. 9, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1am-w G. E. BISHOP AUTOMOBILE INCLOSURE Filed Jan. 9. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Patented Feb. 25, 1924.

GEORGE E. BISHOP, OF CLEVEL QND, OHIO.

AUTOMOBILE nvonosoan Application filed January 9, 1922. {Serial No.527,963.

T 0 all whom it may concern 'Be it known that I, GEORGE E. BISHOP, acitizen of the United States, resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga,and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Im rovements inAuto-mobile Inclosures (Case w), of which the following is aspecification,

inclosure edge in its desired relation to the door.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain means embodying my invention, such disclosed means, however,constituting but a few. of the various embodiments in which theprinciples of my invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a simple form of the collapsibletype of my invention, showing also a broken elevation of the automobilebody including the doors thereof;

Figure 2 represents a transverse vertical section, taken in the planeindicated by the line II-11, Figure 1;

Figure 3 represents an elevation, similar to Figure 1, of another andsomewhat more expensive form of the collapsible type of this invention,showing also modified means for stifiening the lower inclosure edge soas to insure a satisfactory lapping of the inclosure over the door andthe body. Incidentally these lower stiifening means prevent the tearingof the fabric when the inclosure is under tension.

Figure irepresents a horizontal longitudinal section, taken in the planeindicated by the line IV-IV, Figure 3; V

Figure 5 represents an enlargedfragmentary transverse vertical section,taken in the plane indicated by theline V"V, Figure 3 Figure 6represents a tragmentaryeleva tion of a second modified form of thecollapsible type of my invention;

Figure 7 represents, upon-an enlarged scale, an elevation, at rightangles to the elevation of Figure 6, of a portion .of the 5 supportingrod forming one of the elements of the form of inolosure shown in Figure16.;

Figure 8 represents a transverse vertical section, also upon-an enlargedscale, taken in the planeindicated by the line VIII-,-VI II,

Fi ure 6;

-+1gure :9 represents a side elevation of a rigid frame type ofinclosure embod-ying my invention Figure 10 represents, upon an enlargedscale, a fragmentary transverse :horizontal section taken in the planeindicated by the line XX, Figure 9 Figure 11 represents a fragmentaryside elevation of a modified 'formof rigid frame type of inclosure; and

Figure 12 represents an elevation, at right angles to the elevation ofFigure 11, of a supporting rod forming one of theelements of the type ofinclosure shown in Figure 11.

Referring to the annexed drawings, in which the same elements arerepresented, respectively, by the same ordinals in the several views, Isuggest the body of an automobile by the ordinal 1, the same having thefront door 2, and rear door 3. Upon the door 2, for instance, I supportone of my improved side inclosures comprising suitable fabric 4 providedwith frontiand rear transparencies '5 and v6, respeotively, disposed inthe door heading-and back of the door head-- ing, as plainly shown inFigures' l, 3 and '9. The inclosure is provided with strengtheningmeans, is supported upon the door 2 so as to ride inand out withthelatter, and breaks, as it is opened andshut, in the :line ofthe doorhinges 2, all as will be hereinafter fully described.

Referring to closures shown in Figures 1 to. 8, the main elements forholding the curtain taut and rigid in longitudinaland transverse planes,respectively, consist'of a metalliobar 7 and a rod 8, the latter servingalso to supportthe inclosure upon the door 2; The bar 7 is secured tothe fabric 4, preferably in corporated within the latter,;adjacent thetop edge ofthe 'inclosure, and extends from a point contiguoustheopeningedge 4 of the inclosure back to a point slightly short of thebreakingpoint of the inclosure as-the same is opened andshut with'the door. Thetransverse or vertical member for holding the curtain taut, whichis alsoa stretching and supporting member, is securedto the the collapsibletypes of in;

fabric 4, and preferably, as shown in the accompanying drawings, issecured to the lon gitudinal strengthening member 7 this connectionbeing one that allows the removal of member 8 from member 7 or thepivotal movement of member 8 relatively to memher 7, when the inclosureis removed from the door 2, so that the curtain can be rolled or foldedfor convenient storage. The connection of the strengthening member 7 andthe supporting member 8 is at a point removed from the lapping edge P,as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 6, so that the strengthening member 7,being thus connected to the support 8 intermediate of the ends of themember 7, can rock upon the support 8 in a vertical plane, for thepurpose hereinafter fully described.

I provide the lower edge of the inclosure with tensioning means forholding the upper inclosure edge in its proper horizontal relation tothe door and, preferably, I provide these tensioning means adjacent theclosing edge of the inclosure. These tensioning means in the types ofinvention illustrated take the form of co-operating button elementsprovided upon the upper edge of the door and the lower'edge of theinclosure. As shown in the accompanying drawings, I have provided thedoor 2 with a button head 14 and the inclosure with a co-operatingbutton socket it. This button fastener produces an effective stretch inthe inclosure and holds the top of the curtain in its proper relation tothe door. If the inclosure tends to sag, the tensioning means will rockthe same upon the connection between the member 7 and support 8 andthrow the rear of the inclosure up into its proper position. In orderthat a satisfactory lapping of the inclosure over the door and body maybe obtained, I provide the fabric with lower stiffening means andpreferablv incorporate the latter with the fabric in the section wherethe tensioning means are provided. In Figures 1 and 2, for instance, Ishow a thin sheet metal stiffening member 10 and in Figures 3 and 6 asection of wire netting 10. These lower stiffening means incidentallystrengthen the fabric against tearing when the inclosure is tensioned.

The inclosure above described is designed to be supported upon the door2 and to this end I provide the door with a rod receiving socket 9 or 9,referring to the two types of th same shown in Figures 2 and 3,respectively. Preferably I form the door 2 with a suitable socket in itsupper edge adapted to receive the rod supporting bushing 9 or 9.

The inclosure is provided with a valance shown and described by me inprevious patent applications, and particularly patented'to me in U. S.Patent, No. 1,244,692, and this valance consists of a portion 15disposed above the door heading, separable from the portion of theinclosure adjacently below, as the inclosure is carried in and out withthe door, and a portion 15 disposed laterally of the door heading andintegrally secured to the inclosure portion immediately below, all asplainly shown in Figures 1 and 3. The valance portion 15 serves as abumper for the door section of the inclosure when the same is closed.The inclosure is secured to the canopy frame by means of button elements12 secured to the lateral portion of the valance and a button element 13secured to the valance portion 15, as plainly shown in Figures 1 and 3.The portion ofthe inclosure laterally of the door heading is alsosecured to the automobile body 1 at the rear lower edge of the inclosureby means of the button elements 11.

In Figures 1 to 8, I have shown three forms of the collapsible type ofmy improved inclosure and the differences reside in the form of thesupporting rod and in the relative arrangement and co-operation of thesame with the door 2, the fabric 4 and the longitudinal strengtheningmember 7. First describing the type shown in Figure 1 which is aninexpensive and simple form, it will be noted that the supporting rod 8is pivotally secured to the rear face of the strengthening member 7,intermediate of the ends of the latter and is mounted in the tubularbushing 9 carried in the socket of the door 2, the rod 8 being disposedinteriorly of the fabric 4. Due to the fact that the overhang of thecanopy often extends beyond, or lies within, the vertical projection ofthe outer edge of the body, I have shown the rod 8, Figure 2, bent inthe section where the same enters the door socket, to allow for thiscanopv irregularity.

n the type of curtain shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, a more expensive typeand probably of more pleasing appearance, the supporting rod 8 isincorporated'in the fabric at, the latter being formed with a verticalslot l for so receiving the rod 8'. Furthermore, the rod consists of twosections, the main supporting section 8 and an upper tip section 8 whichis secured to the fabric and preferably is pivotally secured to thelongitudinal strengthening member 7 the tip section 8 being formed witha tubular recess for receiving the upper cylindrical rod section 8. Insuch a form of supporting rod it is necessary, of course, to obviate theturning of the rod section 8 in the bushing 9 and to this end thecylindrical rod section 8 is formed with a lower end 8 having planemilled side faces which closely register with similar surfaces formed inthe bushing 9, this end 8 of the supporting rod and the bushing 9 beingco-operatively formed in a manner best suited to this purpose, as shown,described and claimed in my pending application for U. S. Letters Patoutupon mounting for automobile side inclosures, Serial No. 554,462.Oftentimes, the supporting rod is mounted in the door 2 so that itcannot extend in a vertical plane to its point of attachment with thefabric 4 or with the longitudinal strengthening member 7 because the rodwould then lie too far from the closing edge 4 of the inclosure.Therefore I form an offset in the rod to meet this condition, or someother equally good provision is made and for the purpose of illustratingthis expedient, I have shown the supporting rod of the type in Figure 3provided with an offset 8 The type of inclosure shown in Figures 6, 7and 8 is also one in which the supporting rod 8 is incorporated withinthe fabric 4 but no part of the same is permanently s ecured either tothe fabric 4 or the longitudinal strengthenin member 7 nor pivotallysecured thereto. his form of rod is formed with an upper open-endedrecess 8 adapted to receive the longitudinal strengthening member 7, asplainly shown in Figure 8, the fabric stitching below strengtheningmember 7, and intermediate of the ends of the latter, being broken oromitted to allow the entrance of the upper end of the rod 8 Theinclosure thus can be rocked upon the upper end of the rod 8 for thepurpose of holding its upper edge in its proper horizontal relation tothe door. In the forms of inclosur of Figures 3 and 6, of course, thesupporting rods 8' and 8 when the inclosures are removed from the door2, are completely separated from the other inclosure portions and rolledup with the fabric 4 or otherwise suitably stored, when the inclosure asa whole is rolled or folded for storage.

In the forms of inclosure shown in Figures 9 to 12, I have embodied myimprovements in a rigid frame type. In Figures 9 and 10, I have shownthe same form of supporting rod that is illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and5. In Figures 11 and 12, I have shown the same form of supporting rodthat is illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8. Instead of providing a lowerstiffening element, such as the sheet metal plate 10 of Figure 1 or thewire netting 10 of Figure 3, I have incorporated flat rod strengtheningelements both with the vertical closing edge 4 of the curtain and withthe bottom edge 4 thereof, these strengthening element sections beingindicated by the ordinals 7 and 7 and being in fact one continuousmember with the upper longitudinal strengthening member 7, thus forminga rigid three-sided frame. In an. inclosur thus stiffened by a rigidframe, I have not provided other stiffening means such as the sheetmetal plate 10 of Figure 1 or the wire netting 10' of Figure 3.

What I claim is:

1. In an automobile inclosure adapted to be mounted upon the automobiledoor, the combination of suitable curtain fabric; fabric strengtheningmeans; a supporting .member connected to the strengthening means so asto permit a rocking movement of the latter in a vertical plane; andfabrictensioning means consisting of cooperating elements respectivelysecured to the fabric and to the automobile door or other support,whereby the upper edge of the-inclosure may be held in its properhorizontal relation to the door.

2. In an automobile inclosure adapted'to be mounted upon the automobiledoor, the combination of suitable curtain fabric; fabric strengtheningmeans disposedadjacent the upper edge of the fabric; a supporting memberpivotally connected to said strengthening means intermediate of the endsof the latter so as to permit a rocking movement of said strengtheningmeans upon said support; and fabric-tensioning means consisting ofcooperating button elements respectively secured to the fabric and theautomobile door or other support, whereby the upper edge of theinclosure may be held in its proper horizontal relation to the door.

Signed by me this 23rd dayof December 1921. i

GEORGE E. BISHOP.

